Manila: The Police Regional Office in Western Visayas: is urging owners to surrender their unlicensed firearms. In a press conference on Monday, PRO-6 Acting Director Randulf Tua±o said they acknowledge the apprehensions of those who would like to have guns as protection for their families. However, he emphasized that securing a firearm goes through a process and should be done legally. "We encouraged those who are still in possession of loose firearms to coordinate with our local police stations. We guarantee that if they coordinate, we will not file a case, we will process the surrender of their firearms," he said. Tua±o said that those who continue to keep loose firearms will be subject to law enforcement operations or a search warrant.

According to Philippines News Agency, the region's top cop also appreciated those who heeded their campaign and gave up their unlicensed guns. Various city and provincial police offices presented the firearms surrendered at the regional headquarters. The 3,429 surrendered loose firearms were the result of the continued implementation of the Enhanced Managing Police Operations (E-MPO), Tokhang Kontra Armas Luthang (TKAL), and the Armas Baylo Bugas program, which encourage responsible firearm owners to voluntarily surrender unregistered firearms through community dialogues and police engagement.

The Antique Police Provincial Office (PPO) accounted for the highest number of surrendered firearms with 1,236; followed by Aklan PPO, with 978; Iloilo PPO has 959; Capiz PPO accounted 175; the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6 has 121; Iloilo City PO has 39, and Guimaras PPO has 37. After the presentation, they will be submitted to the Regional Forensic Unit 6 (RFU-6) for ballistic examination to determine if the guns were used for any possible crime. Some 254 firearms were endorsed to the Regional Forensic Unit 6 for appropriate disposition. The PRO-6 said the surrendered firearms will be subjected to 'demilitarization.'